5.05.2016

Knitlandia "Book Around" and MD Sheep and Wool Festival

On this morning's hike I had an idea! (When my family hears this they know to be scared, are you scared?)

Last night I finished reading Knitlandia by Clara Parkes, Knitlandia is a series of essays based on Clara's journey's around the globe experiencing yarn festivals, craft publishers, filming tv and workshops, knitting retreats and more. They are all about being a knitter and traveling the world from that perspective. It's an entertaining, enlightening, and quick read. In fact I made myself slow down a bit to cherish it as I knew it would be over before I was ready for it to be. A personal highlight was reading about Clara and the public pools in Iceland, I won't tell you more, as I want you to read it for yourself.. but I certainly learned a bit about what to be prepared for when I go in September.

I want this copy of Knitlandia to travel around to knitters around the globe... kinda like a Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, but knitting book style! Let's call it a "Book Around"!

Here's how it is going to work... I'm going to sign the book and start a mini journal with some thoughts about the book. While I'm at Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival this weekend I'm hoping to get my copy signed by Clara. At 3:30 on Saturday we are having an informal meet up in the shade of Building 1 (see map below, all are welcome!). There is a thread in my Ravelry group if you want more info!

The first person who asks me for the book at the meet up, will get it from me. Then they'll read it, sign it, write something in the journal. Next they will send it to the first person who comments in this post, and then e-mail me with who they have sent it to (so I can keep a record, we don't want our book getting lost!).

That knitter will:

read it

sign it

journal a bit

take a photo of yourself with your book and post it in my Rav group and on social media (if you use it) with the hashtags #bookaround #knitlandia

send it to the next person in the comments list

e-mail me with details on where the book is!

Knitlandia will "Book Around" the world!
(If this works we can try it with another book in the fall)

So, all you have to do to be involved is leave a comment on this post... that will get you on the "list".
Just leave a way to get in touch with you... Ravelry ID is best! When the book is full up, or we get to the end of the list, it will get sent back to me and I'll find a way to surprise Clara with it!

Remember this is global, so don't sign up if you aren't willing to send a package overseas (it will probably cost around $10-15 to send). It's up to you if you want to send a goodie along for the person you are sending the book to as you'll be paying the postage... just don't send goodies for everyone down the line, we don't want to end up with a 100 pound box being shipped!

Also, I don't want your being on this list to stop you from reading to Knitlandia NOW... you should totally buy it to support Clara and her work, and still be part of this fun project (you can just re-read your favorite essay when it arrives at your doorstep!)

Oh, and I just had another idea... (scared yet?)
I'm going to do a Facebook Live post from our meet-up and introduce you to a few knitters (and what they bought!). So, if you can't get to Maryland, keep an eye on my Facebook page around 3:40 and you'll see the post. If you can't watch it then Facebook Live posts can be replayed so you'll be able to view it anytime!

79 comments:

Oh my gosh, yes!! I love Clara and this book was amazing. My wonderful friend Amy got me a signed copy as a gift (she was with you at Knitters Retreat this year - she has a picture of you, Clara and Stephanie sitting on the chairs by the water. I may have swooned a bit when I saw it!) and I devoured it in about 2 days. I had to make myself slow down as well. It was like a really good dessert that you don't want to eat all in one bite! I'd love to be in on this!!! I am deedeeknits on Ravelry.

It's definitely still going around...and still has a long way to go! Check out the 'Knitlandia Book Around' thread on Laura's Ravelry group page and compare with the comments above. It is with 'jbenecke' at the moment I believe.